Sewing machine material guide



Jan. 14, 1936. A. COLBERT SEWING MACHINE MATERIAL GUIDE Filed Nov. s, 1953 s is 6 dbbouwq Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to the method or process of forming trimmings, edgings, rugs and the like, and for a variety of uses, and a sewing machine material guide to be used with said method or process, it being possible to utilize for this purpose numerous kinds of materials, such as worn stockings, old clothing, yarn, silk, wool, and the like, the labor to be expended thereon reduced to a minimum, and the time expended being at least one-third less than that in the methods or processes heretofore proposed.

It accordingly is an object of my invention to provide a novel method or process for making ornamental materials for use on clothing, stamping patterns, bed spreads, hats, hand bags, slippers, belts, and the like, and also for table runners-rugs, and the like, which consists in forming loops by winding strips of any preferred kinds of materials, such as old wearing apparel, spooled or skeined goods, then stitching between the loops thus formed to a suitable backing, then, if desired, winding additional loops of different colors, and stitching the new loops in alignment with those previously formed, and, if preferred, stitching the looped materials to said backing at the side or. sides of the stitched loops previously formed, of varying colors, the rowsof stitched loops being, if desired, straight, curved, or of oval form, said loops, if preferred, remaining uncut, depending upon the use to which the product is to be put, or cut'in any suitable way to form any ornamental effects desired. r

A further object ofmy invention is to provide a novel form of sewing machine material guide comprising a device which may be constructed of a single length of suitable material, and preferably of comparatively stiff material, of suitable cross-section, one end of said device being preferably upturned, and the other end consisting of spaced-apart ends, which may have internal mating fiat faces, whereby a certain flexibility of the device at said end may be attained.-

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of sewing machine material guide, with which, when used with a sewing machine, it is practically impossible to break sewing machine needles.

It is also within the province of my invention to form and provide a novel article of manufacture comprising an ornamental material, which may be stitched to a suitable backing, and when sostitched, said backing may be torn,

ripped or removed from said ornamental material, so that same may be used for trimming wearing apparel, bed spreads, pillows, mats and the like.

The above and further objects and advantages of my invention, as will hereinafter more fully appear, I attain by the process or method, articles of manufacture, and device described in the specification and illustrated on the drawing, forming a part of my application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar parts. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel sewing machine material guide,

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device depicted in Fig. 1 and illustrating the initial step of one method or way of looping the materials to be stitched thereabout,

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but illustrating the next step, several loops being shown completely formed,

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but illustrating how the loops may be formed at the opposite end of the device from that shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how the loops may be stitched between the parts of the sewing machine material guide, and also how additional loops, which may be of varying colors, are added to the already stitched loops,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the looped material illustrating the stitched loops as they appear when still positioned on the sewing machine material rug guide, and stitched to a backing,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating the appearance of the loops stitched to the backing when the sewing machine material guide has been withdrawn therefrom,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but illustrating the appearance of different material stitched to a backing, such, for example, as formed by strips of worn clothing, silk stockings and the like,

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating how the loops may be stitched differently from the way depicted in Fig. '7, I Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating how the loops may be out difierently than in said figure, said loops being stitched at one side, rather than in the middle,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, part sectional top plan view illustrating how circular or oval rugs, trimmings and the like may be produced, and

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate cross-sectional views of alternative forms of sewing machine material guides.

Describing my invention more in detail, I provide a novel form of sewing machine material guide, or device designated generally by the reference numeral 2, for use in carrying into effect my novel method or process, together with the products or articles of manufacture effected thereby, as presently to be explained, said guide or device being preferably formed from a single length of comparatively stiff material, although that is not essential.

The guide or device 2 may in practice be constructed of any preferred material and in any preferred way, and may have on one end thereof a loop 5 which may be bent as shown, also, for a purpose presently to be described, and from said loop extend the side members or guide elements 6, which members, when the device is not in use extend at a slight angle to each other, but when in use are parallel so the product or products effected will be symmetrically and artistically formed.

The members 6 preferably terminate in inturned free ends 8, which ends are provided with mating flat faces l8, also for a purpose presently to be described.

As seen more particularly in Fig. 6, the device or guide 2 is to be used with a sewing machine [2, shown in fragmentary form in said figure, and its presser foot 14, when the guide or device 2 is used in connection therewith, is at all times positioned between the members 6, making it impossible for the needle US to engage said members and hence be broken. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that it is impossible to break sewing machine needles with my invention, a distinct advantage over known devices for a similar purpose.

As hereinbefore set forth, it is possible to use. a large variety of materials, such as worn silk or other stockings, cast off apparel, spooled or skeined materials, depending upon the ornamental effect desired to be obtained, and the materials may be cut into strips of varying width and length, as in practice desired or preferred. Said strips may also be of varying color, and of any combination of material or materials.

For the sake of illustration, the material disclosed in Figs. 3-8, 10 and 12, may be of spooled or skeined material, either of the same or varying colors, but it is to be distinctly understood that the illustration is intended to cover strips of any preferred material, such, for example, as disclosed in Fig. 9, the process or method of effecting the product being precisely the same.

The first step of the process or method is to wind or loop the material i8 (Figs. 3-6 and 12) over the members 6, and this may be done at either end of the device 2, but preferably at the upturned loop end d, which facilitates said winding or looping, in that the material !3 may be easily slipped over said end, and, if desired, without removing the device 2 from the machine i2.

To provide a floating anchoring means for the material it, it is first given a slight twist 29 (Fig. 3), and then said material is rapidly moved in parallel strands over the members 6, which looping or winding brings the faces l together and the members 6 in parallel relation, so that the product will be symmetrical.

After the required number of turns of the material I8 have been placed upon the device 2 (depending upon the color effect desired) any suitable backing material 22, such as canvas, burlap, muslin, crash or other material, said device 2 is placed on the sewing machine 12, and the backing 22 pushed thereunder, the upturned end 4 having the added function of facilitating the slipping of said backing thereunder. Then the presser foot 24 (Figs. 6 and 12) is depressed upon the first several turns of the material i8, between the members 6, and the material stitched together to form a symmetrical whole, thus forming a set of loops 26.

After the end of the winding or turns has been reached, and it is desired to add material of a different color, said added material may be slipped under and over the end 4, and the several new turns or windings slipped home to abut the already stitched material, after which the sewing is continued; or the device 2 may be pulled forwardly, and the winding continued as before. Further, if desired, the device or guide 2 may be entirely removed from the completed stitched portion of the design or pattern to be made, the ends 8 separated and made to straddle the already stitched portion, and the winding or looping continued as previously described. It will be obvious that this may all be accomplished in an exceedingly short period of time and with perfect safety insofar as the sewing machine needles are concerned, for said needles never 'reach the members 5. Any preferred length of the product and any variety of colors may thus be produced.

The process or method thus far described may result in a product for an indefinite number of uses, as hereinbefore explained, such as trimmings for apparel, belts, bed spreads or even monograms.

If it is decided to make rugs, or that a plurality of sets of loops be formed, this may be done by shifting the already formed loops 26, stitched to the backing 22, to one side, and the guide or device 2 slipped under the presser foot 24 until one of the members is in engagement with the stitching holding the loops to the backing 22, after which the material [8 (as strips and the like) is again wound about the members 6, and the stitching and method followed as previously explained, thus forming any preferred number of rows, vertically or horizontally, and of any variety of colors.

To obtain other novel, ornamental and aesthetic effects the loops 26 may be cut, sheared, or the like, and brushed lightly to obtain the effect desired. Fig. 9 illustrates at 26 a cut material.

It, of course, is not necessary to stitch the materials exactly in the center, and the device 2 may be shifted laterally with respect to the presser foot 24, so that the stitching may be accomplished at one side of the center line of the wound materials, as disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11, the presser foot 24, of course, being always positioned between the members 6, and it is impossible for the needles M to touch said members, Fig. 11 disclosing at 26" how the materials may be cut, so that the product formed may be stitched at 28 to any portion of any wearing apparel, drapes, table runners as a fringe, trimmings and the like, as in practice preferred.

To make a fringe, the presser foot 24 may be positioned preferably over the left member 6, the needle H5 stitching the material l8 to the backing 22 close to said member 6, after which the product thus formed may be out or remain uncut as hereinbefore explained.

If desired, also, a temporary backing of any suitable material, such as paper and the like, may be used, which backing may be easily ripped or torn from the product, so a permanent backing may be dispensed with, and the product used in any of the numerous ways hereinbefore explained.

Further, heavy, light and medium finished work may readily be obtained by crowding or spacing the materials between the members 6 of the device or guide 2. It will also be understood that the varying colored materials may be stitched to patterns for rugs, pillows and the like, said patterns being used as the backing, and the stitching accomplished according to the designs already appearing upon such pattern, the device or guide 2 being in position as the backing or pattern is shifted according to the design thereon as the embellishment is stitched thereto.

The open ends 8, with mating faces l0, provide for flexibility and shifting and balanced action, so that even and accurate workmanship may be readily accomplished. This is particularly true when curved, oval or circular designs are to be made.

This is more particularly disclosed in Fig. 12, where it will be seen that the mating faces I01 will ride on each other, or the ends 8 be made to overlap or cross each other according to the conditions met in practice.

In Fig. 12, the winding or looping is accomplished as previously explained, and the stitching the same, except that as the materials are stitched the backing 22 is manually turned to form the curve, oval or circle, and the additional windings accomplished as in the single or plural lengths and breadths formed, the presser foot 24 being also positioned between the members 6. It will be obvious that as the work progresses the ends 8 and faces I0 will function as just explained to obtain accurate and finished work, said ends and faces providing a rigid end for the device or guide 2 to produce accuracy and evenness of said work.

As seen in Figs. 13 and 14, the cross-sectional areas 6' and 6" may be half round or angular or in any other form in practice preferred.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the process, method, product and device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the process, method, product and device can be carried out by other ways and means.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of guide members about which material is adapted to be looped, and between which said material is adapted to be stitched, a loop connecting said members on one end of said device, and a pair of inturned normally spaced apart ends on said members at the other end of said device.

2. A sewing machine material guide comprising a pair of normally parallel spaced apart members, having at one end an upturned loop and at the other end inturned normally spaced apart free ends, said free ends being provided with mating flat faces.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of normally spaced apart material guiding members over which the material to be stitched is adapted to be looped and between which the presser foot of a sewing machine is adapted to be positioned and said material stitched, means at one end of said device for connecting said members together and for facilitating the introduction below said end, material to function as a backing for the said looped material to which said looped material is adapted to be stitched, and complementary inturned ends on said members, which ends, as said materials are stitched together, are adapted for relative movement to facilitate said stitching.

ARTHUR COLBERT. 

